3 weeks in

Yesterday marked my 3 week point at starting to run, and I'm starting to see a little progress. The first few days I ran I could only jog maybe 5 minutes before I was tired, and after taking a break and doing another 5 minutes I would be done for the day.

By the end of the first week I was able to go for around 30 minutes without stopping, jogging about 2 miles on the elliptical I've since been doing 30-40 minutes 4 days a week, with a 5th day of minor running followed by heavy leg workouts. I've found that 2 miles is about the max I can go, but I seem to be getting there faster. I've also moved over to using the spin cycle for the last 10-15 minutes of my workout which I really enjoy a lot.

Anyway, to anyone who read this far, does this workout routine that I'm doing sound right? If not, what should I do different? I've been trying to keep things sorta slow and not too terribly intense, but I am also eager to see more progress.

Your progress is fine and you're approaching training correctly. You're easing into the running length and are regularly incorporating other forms of training. Keep in mind that after, say. 6 months, you'll be looking at cumulative growth. More often than not a strategic, safe, but slow approach encompassing the full 6 months of training yields a better cumulative result than really pounding away at training, seeing amazing results and then completely crashing due to injury.

For me running was like pull-ups. Do it once and every following time is easier than the very first attempt. Do it a few more times and progress is much more predictable, manageable and noticeable. At one point it just clicks and you can do it - at least that's the case for me.

Do yourself a favor and begin with running for the sake of running. Don't run for numbers.

Seriously, you do seem to be doing it the right way, just try not to get over eager, and try to do too much. Continue to listen to feedback from you body (i.e. aches and pains, fatigue that lasts more than a day, etc.) and be prepared to give yourself an extra rest day now and then, when those kinds of signs start to show up.

Cross training will definitely help you become more resistant to injury, especially biking and weight lifting using the legs. Others can give you better weight training advice, the only one I know is to make sure you're doing all the exercises right, with proper form and at the right pace. Too fast and you won't get the full benefit, too slow and you may end up using non-targeted muscles to compensate for the weaker, targeted muscle groups. Improper form can end up getting you hurt.

Keep working and stay consistent, and you will get better: better shape, better feeling and better times.

Are you actually running outside in real life or are you just using the elliptical machine? The machine is fine to break a sweat and get in some cardio, but running for real is different. Your joints, tendons, muscles, etc. won't get used to the impact that actual running involves if you are just using the machine.

Good job on building up some cardio endurance. However, I have to agree with Fox, eliptical is good for getting some cardio but is not going prepare you for real running. I would hate for you to get all pumped up because you can do all these miles on the eliptical and then go out for a real run and can barely make it a mile. That would be non-productive for your motivation and progress. I highly suggest getting out and running for real and use the eliptical as a cross training, warm up or cool down activity.

Well I haven't had a chance to go running for real yet, because I live in miserable Portland, Oregon. I'm not sure if you've watched the weather channel for my city, but it's cold and rainy 6 out of 7 days this time of year. We only get 144 days of sun a year, and the overwhelming majority of those are from June-September. I do plan on running for real, but not until the weather gets a little better.

Come on down to sunny California... Hope you are ready for the heat here, over 100 regularly in the summer. The winters are great for running, however, and right now it's about 50 degrees at 6:00AM so perfect for good vigorous running.

Anyway, I recommend you start finding some road miles in your week. At least move from the elliptical to a treadmill so you start getting a more typical stride happening, and then move into some road running.

Ultimately, what you are doing right now is not running at all. It has none of the impact effects of running, and a lot of people would consider it to be cross-training as a supplement for running.

I'm not making a judgement at all, just reinforcing what a few others have said that you need to get some actual running into the mix.

FWIW, when I was living in Colorado, I would train on a treadmill all winter because I didn't want to risk a broken ankle on icy trials. I found the transition to the road in the spring a bit of a shock because my legs weren't as prepared for the impact forces that road running produces. It made my legs tired more quickly.

You're improving, and there will need to be this transition in the process, so if you can, ease into it by moving over to the treadmill first, and then start doing some road miles.

Well I haven't had a chance to go running for real yet, because I live in miserable Portland, Oregon. I'm not sure if you've watched the weather channel for my city, but it's cold and rainy 6 out of 7 days this time of year. We only get 144 days of sun a year, and the overwhelming majority of those are from June-September. I do plan on running for real, but not until the weather gets a little better.

I was in Portland a few years ago for the Blues Festival. I spent the entire week there and the weather was fantastic! Of course this was in July. Everytime I say how much I loved Portland in the summer, someone who actually lived there rolls their eyes and tells me I don't have a clue.

Echoing the other's sentiments about real running v. elliptical. When I started going to the gym 10+ years ago, I would use the elliptical for literally hours at a time. I thought running would be NBD. Boy was I wrong! The elliptical can be great cross training and cardio, but it is not running. Try a treadmill or a short route near your house.

Yesterday marked my 3 week point at starting to run, and I'm starting to see a little progress. The first few days I ran I could only jog maybe 5 minutes before I was tired, and after taking a break and doing another 5 minutes I would be done for the day.

By the end of the first week I was able to go for around 30 minutes without stopping, jogging about 2 miles on the elliptical I've since been doing 30-40 minutes 4 days a week, with a 5th day of minor running followed by heavy leg workouts. I've found that 2 miles is about the max I can go, but I seem to be getting there faster. I've also moved over to using the spin cycle for the last 10-15 minutes of my workout which I really enjoy a lot.

Anyway, to anyone who read this far, does this workout routine that I'm doing sound right? If not, what should I do different? I've been trying to keep things sorta slow and not too terribly intense, but I am also eager to see more progress.

Your improvement is impressive.

When you transition to real running, you will find that the impact will prevent you from getting in as much cardio as you can on the elliptical.

Make sure you continue on with the elliptical, or another form of cross-training, as you slowly transition into running. It takes 6 months to a year to strengthen your joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc. Due to your cardio fitness, you will find it tempting to run farther and faster than your body can handle.

In some cases, I was following a fast running, good looking, seductively clad woman. In others, I was making a half-hearted attempt to do speed work, despite my absolute hatred of it. In any case, the following results are intended for entertainment purposes only, not because I'm trying to be the next Speed Racer of running.

I am in Seattle area get yourself some rain gear to run in and go. Hat and a shell jacket to block some of the rain and go to town. I don't do treadmill if needed which is rarely. Just like Venom said our weather is some of the better running weather. If anything I have to force my self out on the sunny days as it is really hot. This last stretch of sunny weather we had couple weeks a go I purposely did my weekend runs in the middle of the day to try and adjust better to warmer running.

I think that your routine sounds great because you aren't trying to push too fast.

Regarding Seattle does it really rain that often? We are heading there (and Vancouver) in July. I will run no matter what especially with a chance to be in a new state but hope the sightseeing stuff works out. My Red Sox game is safe obviously.

I live in Seattle and the weather can be pretty miserable around here. Best advice I can give you is to learn to enjoy the rain. It does have its benefits, I'd argue. The smells are much more profound, the sounds are more varied/striking, and dehydration isn't a major issue. Many races, particularly around November, are plagued by rain. It's useful to get used to. Go out and run a few times in the rain. When you tell yourself you can't, go out anyway.

Originally Posted by Cats and Pianos:

Well I haven't had a chance to go running for real yet, because I live in miserable Portland, Oregon. I'm not sure if you've watched the weather channel for my city, but it's cold and rainy 6 out of 7 days this time of year. We only get 144 days of sun a year, and the overwhelming majority of those are from June-September. I do plan on running for real, but not until the weather gets a little better.

Well I haven't had a chance to go running for real yet, because I live in miserable Portland, Oregon. I'm not sure if you've watched the weather channel for my city, but it's cold and rainy 6 out of 7 days this time of year. We only get 144 days of sun a year, and the overwhelming majority of those are from June-September. I do plan on running for real, but not until the weather gets a little better.

I live in Olympia when I'm not in the desert and I run and/or ride my bike (outside) 5-6 days a week. Just dress for the weather and suck it up.

I think that your routine sounds great because you aren't trying to push too fast.

Regarding Seattle does it really rain that often? We are heading there (and Vancouver) in July. I will run no matter what especially with a chance to be in a new state but hope the sightseeing stuff works out. My Red Sox game is safe obviously.

It can July and August are the best months for to no rain. If you were to look at total inches of rain per year we are not that far off of most it is just that like today we have lots of days that are overcast and misting. I would just make sure you pack for a little rain. Make sure you got something to keep yea warm if it does decided to drop in temp. If it is sunny you will get to experience what we live as there is no area any more spectacular when sunny. If it is like today you would be able to see why we go a little batty when we have had 3 months strait of overcast and showers.

Maybe it's because I live in California's San Joaquin Valley, but I love overcast, cooler, rainy weather because we hardly ever get it here. I've always wanted to visit the pacific NW, partially for the weather. Where I live the summers are 100+ for months when even at midnight you're sweating in 85 degree temps and during the winter we get flash freezes that destroy the citrus. Can't complain too much about the winters though since it never snows here. I can't imagine how it would be to live somewhere like Minnesota where you wake up every day and have to dig your car out of the fluff.

I love seeing the sky steel grey with clouds and listening to the rain bounce off of everything. And the smell of the rain and wind and all that stuff. Oregon and Washington sound like heaven to me, but again, maybe if I lived there it would get old.

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